A Future in Philosophy

Wellesley's philosophy majors can be found in a wide variety of occupations. Our graduates are now working as:

Law is probably the field with the greatest concentration of philosophy alums, but as this list suggests, Wellesley’s philosophy majors have pursued almost every career out there. The opportunities for philosophy majors are wide open.

Wellesley alums can be found teaching philosophy at a number of colleges and universities around the United States. Current students interested in applying to graduate school in philosophy are encouraged to talk to members of the faculty about how best to prepare themselves. It is strongly recommended that students take Logic and consider writing a thesis or doing other independent research.

The Philosophical Gourmet Report has some useful information about graduate study in philosophy as well as specific graduate programs. Check here for caveats about the PGR.

Philosophy in preparation for studying law

Many Wellesley philosophy majors have pursued careers in law. Since 1995 alone, more than 15 philosophy majors have gone on to law school. The analytical skills these graduates apply in the study and practice of law are fundamental to the study and practice of philosophy. In all of our courses, students are encouraged to interpret challenging texts, to assess and develop arguments, and to write and speak with clarity and force. One course, Logic, focuses on the analysis of language and the validity of arguments. Other courses focus on legal issues or explore the moral and political questions that underlie them. The Philosophy Department welcomes students with an interest in the law, and members of the department would be happy to help pre-law students plan an appropriate sequence of courses.

Courses of special interest for students preparing for a career in law include:

Philosophy in preparation for medical school

Many alums with careers in medicine studied philosophy while at Wellesley. Pre-medical students have long been encouraged to pursue a liberal arts education, and the rigor of studying philosophy, combined with a solid performance in required science courses, demonstrates a student’s strong and flexible intellectual potential. Philosophy courses help students to develop skills that are crucial in medicine: the ability to see one’s way through a problem, to assess solutions, and to communicate solutions to others. One course, Medical Ethics, focuses directly on medical ethical issues, but many other courses deal with underlying ethical and political questions. The Philosophy Department would be happy to help pre-medical students to plan a sequence of courses that integrates the philosophy major with their other requirements.

Courses of special interest to students preparing for a career in medicine: